SAINT SPYRIDON CHURCH

A BEAUTIFUL WORSHIP PLACE TO VISIT IN

BUCHAREST

Saint Spyridon Church in Bucharest is the largest and the most imposing Orthodox church in the capital. It is called Saint Spyridon Church New for there is another worship place dedicated to the same saint, known as the old saint Spyridon Church behind the United Nations Square.

WHERE IS SAINT SPYRIDON CHURCH – THE LARGEST CHURCH IN BUCHAREST

The new Saint Spyridon Church is near Unification Square, in the middle of Bucharest. The first worship place was built here in 1768, walls being painted in Renaissance style. Two earthquakes in 1802 and 1838 seriously damaged the church and the architect Xavier Villacrosse had to rebuilt it but in new Gothic style. A devastating wind put to the ground its two towers in 1885 but they were immediately rebuilt.

THE HISTORY OF SAINT SPYRIDON CHURCH 

In 1940 Saint Spyridon Church had to face another earthquake and in 1944 the German and US bombardments. The foundation of the worship place was sustained by wooden pillars which were replaced with concrete in the 50s. The church was in real danger for under the foundation it was Dambovita river whose waters could lead to a disaster sooner or later. Again the 1977 earthquake but also the works for the underground transport network in 1986 damaged the building which needed capital repairs in 2010.
Saint Spyridon Church New  in Bucharest is 42X20 meters and it towers are 38 m high, while the front part of the building is decorated in new gothic style with red pottery pieces. Another such monumental church is the ARMENIAN CHURCH.

Inside the church there are the graves of Scarlat Ghica and his son, Alexandru Ghica, Romanian lords who built the first worship place here at the end of the 18th century.
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